2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Days of Service

In commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, people across the nation are called upon to perform community service. Honoring this tradition, UW Tacoma offers several opportunities for community members to engage in a service activity this month. Volunteers have a choice of activities and days.

Persons interested in participating in any of the community service activities below must RSVP to 253-692-4325 or uwtsteps@uw.edu.

The activities include the following:

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2011:
Martin Luther King Day Unity Breakfast at University of Washington TacomaEvent summary: Event at UW Tacoma to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteers are needed to assist with set-up and execution of the event. An orientation prior to the event will be required. Capacity: 20 volunteers Setup start time: 7:30 a.m. (some volunteers may be asked to arrive at 7 a.m.)Event start time: 8 a.m.Event end time: 10:30 a.m. (some volunteers may be asked to stay until 11 a.m. to assist with cleanup)Roles:

set-up: assist with the set up of table center pieces and distribution of information.

greeters: show guests to food line, tables, restrooms, etc.

registrars: check-in, meal ticket distribution, etc.

aides: assist individuals as needed.

runners: assist with various tasks as needed.

photographer: capture the event through photography before, during and afterward.

clean-up: help clear tables, pick up extra programs and papers, etc.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011:Puget Creek Restoration SocietyEvent summary: Puget Creek Restoration Society protects, enhances, and restores the Puget Creek Watershed and other streams, wetlands, and green spaces. We serve the South Puget Sound communities and invite their participation through hands-on restoration, research, education, and advocacy, and by promoting a sense of stewardship. Volunteers will participate in a variety of activities, such as invasive plant eradication, trash pickup, and so on.Capacity: Unlimited, but please register in advance.Setup start time: UW Tacoma students, please arrive at UWT at 8 a.m.. Transportation will be provided.Event start time: 9 a.m.Event end time: 12 noon (return to campus by 12:30 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2011:L'Arche FarmsEvent summary: L'Arche Farms and Gardens is an affiliate of L'Arche Tahoma Hope that assists people with and without developmental disabilities share in a community through farming and gardening. Volunteers will work the greenhouses prepping for baby plants, seeding and planting.
Location: 11716 Vickery Avenue East, Tacoma, WA
Event setup time: UW Tacoma students, please arrive at UWT at 8 a.m. Transportation will be provided.
Event start time: 9 a.m.
Event end time: 12 noon(return to campus by 12:30 p.m.)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011
Tacoma and Food: Creating a Food Equitable CityEvent summary: Meal preparation by college students in advance using sustainable food techniques. High school students will be invited to join college mentors for a lunch and workshop in which they will learn about nutrition and food sovereignty issues and participate in small group discussions. Modeled around the nutrition and food sovereignty workshop which took place at the Race and Pedagogy National Conference. Using Tacoma as both a case study for food-related injustice and as a site of innovative grassroots solutions, the session will highlight the relationships between food access and equity, food cultures, racism, and systemic causes of injustice. Participants will connect the personal and the systemic; they will share and analyze memories of their own seminal moments about food over a vegetarian meal, then come together to discuss the realities of food choices in Tacoma through a series of food maps. Finally the group will collaborate on identifying and acknowledging strategies for a shared vision of healthy, sustainable, equitable food cultures in Tacoma.Location: Goodwill REACH Center, Rm 112 (for kitchen) and Rm 113 for workshopEvent start time: 9:15 a.m. (High school students will arrive at 10:45)Event end time: 1 p.m.(High school students will return to school at noon; college mentors will help clean up and be out by 1 p.m.)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011For Once In My Life Free Film, Reflection activity and followup for L'ArcheEvent Summary: We'll be ushering and assisting as needed with the event and presentation/discussion afterward.Film Summary: For Once in My Life is a documentary about a unique band of singers and musicians, and their journey to show the world the greatness — and killer soundtrack — within each of them. The 28 band members have a wide range of mental and physical disabilities, as well as musical abilities that extend into ranges of pure genius. In a cinema vérite style, the film explores the struggles and triumphs, and the healing power of music, as the band members' unique talents are nurtured to challenge the world's perceptions. Community Cinema showing, as a follow up to L'Arche farms activity. More info: communitycinemaseattle.orgLocation: Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WAEvent setup time: 5 p.m.Event start time: 6 p.m.Event end time: 9 p.m. (approximate)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2011
Habitat for HumanityEvent summary: Volunteers will offer their service at a construction site as well as at the Habitat for Humanity Store. Please wear clothing that can get dirty, and dress in layers so you can stay comfortable! Orientation and training can be done on event day. All participants will need to submit paperwork in advance of the event! Can host 20 students at the work site on this date. Students at this location will be performing construction activities and will be outdoors. Can also host 10 students at the store/warehouse on this date. Students at this location will be performing inventory/organization activities.
In both cases, the work will involve physical labor.Location: Specific work site location to be determined in the case of the construction project. The store is located at D Street and Puyallup Avenue in Tacoma, a couple of blocks downhill from the Tacoma Dome.Event times for construction site: 8:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. UW Tacoma students, please arrive at UWT at 7:30 a.m. Transportation will be provided.Event times for store: 9:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m..

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2011
Youth Activities, Dinner and Family Fun Night @ Tacoma Rescue Mission - Adams St. Family CampusEvent summary: This will be a day of family fun and festivites granted for the residents of the family campus. The hope is that we can provide a flow of events from youth activities in the afternoon, assist with dinner service and then the day ends with a movie and popcorn night for the families to enjoy together.Location: Family Campus - 2909 South Adams Street, Tacoma, WA 98409Youth Center Activity/Project:Setup start time: 1:30 p.m.Event start time: 2 p.m.Event end time: 5 p.m.Capacity: 10 Dinner Service:Setup start time: 4 p.m.Event start time: 4:30 p.m.Event end time: 6 p.m.Capacity: 6 Family Fun Night (Movie and Popcorn): Setup start time: 5:30 p.m.Event start time: 6 p.m.Event end time: 8 p.m.Capacity: 15